Publications

Road safety in the WHO African Region 2023

Road safety in the WHO African Region 2023

Road traffic injuries are an increasingly serious public health concern in the WHO African Region, causing an estimated 225 482 deaths in 2021. Africa accounts for 19% of the global burden of deaths, despite having only 15% of the global population and owning merely 3% of the global vehicle fleet.

Since 2010, there has been a concerning 17% increase in fatalities in the African Region, the only WHO region to experience such a surge. However, 17 countries in the Region have managed to reduce fatalities by up to 49%. Still, the African Region holds the highest fatality rate in the world, at 19.4 deaths per 100 000 population, with substantial variations among countries.